Broomfield proposes $95,000 for ranked-choice election preparation
The proposed spending includes $35,000 for software and about $60,000 for voter education, plus additional election staffing, as Broomfield prepares for a possible first ranked-choice election.
Broomfield is proposing at least $95,000 in 2027 election spending for ranked-choice voting software and voter education, along with additional election staffing.
At a Sept. 17 budget study session, the Clerk and Recorder’s Office told City Council that the proposed budget includes $35,000 for ranked-choice voting software and an estimated $60,000 for voter education. The office also plans to add election judges beyond the number used in a typical election. The council study-session recording captures the presentation and discussion.
The software funding would give Broomfield time to test the system and establish procedures for election testing and audits. The clerk told council that ranked-choice voting could be required if three candidates file for a relevant race, meaning the preparation would begin before the city knows whether that threshold will be met.
The voter-education estimate reflects the possibility that 2027 could be Broomfield’s first ranked-choice election. The clerk said the city might not spend the full $60,000 if ranked-choice voting is not triggered, and that education costs could decline in later ranked-choice elections as residents and election workers gain experience with the system.
The proposed budget was scheduled for a public hearing Oct. 13 and formal consideration and adoption Oct. 27. No council vote on the election spending was recorded during the Sept. 17 study session. Broomfield’s budget reports contain the broader proposed-budget materials.